How to Deadhead Balloon Flowers
- Inspect the plants once a week during the flowering season. Look for wilting flowers and forming seed heads.
- Grasp the stem under a spent or wilting blossom between your forefinger and thumb.
- Trim off any dead or damaged leaves from the balloon flowers with a small pair of shears.
should I deadhead my balloon flowers?
Deadheading spent flowers will prolong their bloom time, but be careful not to cut the stems themselves because new buds form on the existing stem. Balloon flowers can tolerate moderate drought conditions, but if the soil dries out completely, you will need to give the plants a good drink.
how do you deadhead bellflowers?
Deadhead flowers to neaten plants and prevent self-sowing. On taller types, remove faded flowers individually, then cut back the flowering stalks to the base when all bloom is finished. With low growers, wait until the first flush of bloom is past, then shear back plants by half.
do balloon flowers spread?
Balloon flowers make great neighbors to other plants because they don’t spread and only need dividing about once a decade.
Do balloon flowers reseed?
If this is the case, they are one of the easiest flowers to increase and reseed, and they are not a nusiance since they can be pulled out and they are easily recognized by their leaves.
Do balloon flowers come back every year?
Balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus) live up to their names, with the buds appearing to inflate before they burst open to reveal their bell-shaped summer blooms. These perennials grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8, where they thrive in full-sun garden beds. You may also read, How do you deal with a bad advisor?
Do balloon flowers bloom all summer?
These flower buds open to reveal blue, pink or white star-shaped blossoms throughout the summer. Balloon flowers benefit from deadheading. Since balloon flowers bloom all summer long, they also benefit from severe deadheading and cutting back at mid-season, which encourages them to remain full and productive. Check the answer of How do you deal with a bad PhD advisor?
How much sun do balloon flowers need?
Growing Balloon Flowers. The balloon plant is easy to grow and hardy in USDA Zones 3-8. It will thrive in sun or partial shade. It likes well-drained, slightly acidic soil; and although the balloon flower plant will tolerate dry conditions, it prefers (and needs) plenty of moisture.
Do balloon flowers attract butterflies?
Balloon flower does well in containers and is great for cut flowers. It attracts butterflies and is a magnet for birds. The plant looks great as a border plant and is lovely in rock gardens. Read: How do you deal with a child who is a perfectionist?
How do you start a balloon flower from seed?
Plant the balloon flower seeds in the spring when all chance of frost has passed. Choose a site that gets full sun to slight partial shade, and dig a 3-inch layer of compost into the soil. Sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil and water them. You’ll see sprouts within two weeks.
Can you grow balloon flowers in pots?
Growing in Containers Since these flowers have a complex root system, it can be difficult to transplant them from one container to another after they grow to a certain height, but during the first and even the second year of growth, these plants can thrive in a medium-sized pot.
When can I move balloon flowers?
What you may not know is that balloon flower is one of several perennials with a taproot and such plants are not fond of being moved once established. If you have to, it is best to transplant them in spring.
How do you winterize balloon flowers?
How to Winterize Balloon Flower. Water the balloon flowers after the blossoms have faded. They need 1 inch of rain each week, depending upon the rain. Prune the spent flower stems to the ground.
Is a balloon flower a perennial?
Balloon Flower Plant Features The pure blue flowers of balloon flower are a welcome sight in the late summer. Once established, balloon flower is a long-lived, deer-resistant perennial that you can rely on for many years. Hardy from zones 3-8.
Are balloon flowers edible?
Edible parts of Balloon Flower: Young leaves – cooked. Root – cooked. Eaten in soups as a tonic vegetable. It is also peeled and pickled or preserved in sugar.
